The Mirage Resort & Casino Review

Steve Wynn is regarded by many as the father of the modern Las Vegas resort casino, and he certainly has made quite and impact on the scene over his career. The Mirage itself has been a prominent player in the Las Vegas market since back when it opened in 1989, even though more opulent hotel casinos have been built since, it’s still stands out very well.

Wynn got his start in the casino business back in 1967, and after many years of building his company up, was ready for his first major strip casino in the late 1980’s. The Mirage took the strip scene to a whole new level, and its focus on luxury and opulence was considered such high risk that the financing for it had to come from junk bonds.

To pull this off, they needed to spend a lot of money, and at the time the Mirage was the most expensive hotel casinos ever built, at a cost of $630 million. It was the first ground up resort built in Las Vegas in 25 years, and it sure was a game changer. They even used real gold dust to color the hotel’s distinctive gold tinted windows.

This ended up igniting a $12 billion casino resort spending spree on the strip, as the concerns about it being too luxurious and too expensive were soon set to rest after people saw how incredibly successful it was from a business perspective. The Las Vegas strip had finally come of age, going from primarily a gimmick driven family oriented carnival to one that focused much more on luxury without having to charge luxury prices.

While the Mirage is famous for its big name acts, and in particular being the home of Siegfried and Roy for many years, their artificial volcano which erupts nightly is their signature attraction. The smell from the volcano is even fragranced with pina colada in keeping with their Polynesian theme, and to make the experience more pleasant for guests.

The Features of The Mirage Resort and Casino

Even though there have been some big hotels built in Las Vegas since, the Mirage remains in the top 10 largest in the city and among the top 20 largest in the world with their 3,044 rooms. It features a South Seas theme, with its rooms being very nicely decorated as well as spacious.

Rooms are available for as little as $69 per night, which gets you almost 400 square feet of room in either a king or double queen configuration, or you can book a run of house room where you’ll be assigned either one according to the hotel’s preference, but at a discount over the normal room rates.

Penthouse suites are also available, and these are true VIP suites, with limo service included, and you even get to skip the lines at many of the resort’s restaurants, as well as have exclusive access to the Shadow Creek Golf Course.

There are various suite types available, all the way up to a two bedroom villa, with prices depending on booking dates, but if you book during a less busy time there is some great value to be had here.

While Siegfried and Roy no longer perform, their legacy lives on here with Siegfried and Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. The atrium in the hotel entrance also features lush, rainforest flora. There is also a 53 foot long aquarium behind the registration desk to enjoy.

This is still the place to be for shows and entertainment, which is now headlined by The Beatles: Love, by Cirque du Soleil. Many other acts also perform here and there’s always lots going on.

Diners will be delighted by the Mirage’s extensive list of restaurants, ranging from upscale to casual to quick bites.

Fin serves up Asian food in a backdrop of a beautiful waterfall. The Still serves both food and sports on 27 65 inch flat screen TV’s. Carnegie Delicatessen proves East Coast deli favorites in a casual setting.

There are 8 bars and lounges here in total, with a nice selection of different ones, including the impressive architecture at the 16,000 square foot 1 Oak and the incredible views and décor of Rhumbar.

There’s also the Mirage Pool to enjoy, in addition to a spa and a salon, and the concierge here can also arrange a round of golf for you at one of several area courses.

The Casino at the Mirage

As this is an MGM Resorts International property, casino players at the Mirage are treated to MGM’s M Life rewards program, where the rewards you earn here are good at any MGM owned casino resort. This is clearly one of the best rewards programs in the business.

The casino here is a good sized one, measuring in at 100,000 square feet of space. Their extensive selection of slots start at just a penny and go up all the way to $1000 a spin, and offer both classic slots and the latest and most popular 3D slots.

The poker room here is felt by many to be the city’s finest, and has also won the award for “Best Poker Room in Vegas” by Las Vegas Weekly. There’s a great selection of stakes here as well as several daily tournaments.

The smoke free Race and Sports Book here features an 85 foot projection screen at 4 times the resolution of HD, with a variety of seating options including VIP packages, and wagering on all major sporting events as well as horse racing.

The Mirage was built to be unlike anything Las Vegas had ever seen at the time, and while that certainly was the case back in 1989, this resort casino stands out very well even today and is certainly still well worth experiencing.